t heavy with unspoken threats, like

ht from the crystal chandelier reflecting off

g into a medium-rare steak with a precision tha

ixed and fragile, like glass that had b

mund sat like a st

touched

ixed on a spot above Richard's head. He

y mother said, her voice a touch to

linen napkin and finally turned his gaze toward us. "But I didn't call

what the board of governors a

keep up with the gossip of o

bout my son and my soon-to-be stepdaughter appearing in compromising photos

steadier than I felt. The polaroid in my pocket felt heavy against

t like being caught in a spot

that in our world, pe

, an inappropriate connection-between you

ike a soap opera i

pping with sarcasm. "The stock price? God forbid people t

his family together to let it fall apart because of teenage rebellion. From now on, you will not be seen together outside this house. Jane,

hat followed

maternal support, but she was preoccupi

for safety, and she wasn'

ther?" I asked, my vo

fety depends on the stability of this house. If the press starts digging into us because of your behavior at school, they

a direc

he'd yelled it, that my father's l

sh against my kne

s Edm

nt signal of support in th

said, his voice empty.

g through clouds. "Excellent. I knew I could count on your maturi

disguised as wedding planning. My mother discussed peonies and si

at me, I saw the man in th

I saw the boy who had watched

to the gardens. I needed air that

he water drowning out the noise of the

first. He only stood the

esperate," Edmu

rate, that's certain." I pulled the polaroid from my pocket

o, his brow furrowin

nd read the note: He

an in the sha

pale. "That's not o

who

nd whispered. "A man

rred for unethical behavior. My mother once told

it means he's seeking a way out th

Stop him.' Richard m

k. "Richard wouldn't send a polaroid to

s to turn against each other. Some

ssi

e house, focusing on the window of Richard's study. "There are people

, not on a new family. They might

ken, and surrounded by wolves. "I have to get t

you book a ride." Edmund stepped closer, his presence a warm shi

from when my mother...

rd just told you your future h

it finally settled there. His grip was heavy and sure. "Becaus

ke furniture. He believes he can b

n that some things

ce inches from mine. "

sea eyes and saw the same f

apped and tired

I whi

tead, he did something

ressed a small, cold

a sil

sses the alarm on the main gate. If you ever need to leave without be

his sleeve. "Edmund? What happe

his sharp features. "In this house, Jane, no one ever

leaving me with the key, the polar

the house but did

from my late-night wandering that Richard kept a spare

ped in

leather and remnants o

e lights. I used my

ough the darknes

as searching for the files Edmund mentione

drawers, and the hidden

chard was too smart t

I spotted a small, discarded scr

out. It was a receipt from a pr

. The destination wasn

te clinic in t

ard hadn't lied about

d moved him to a place where no one-not even

t. It was a countdown. My father was talking, and Richard was

me. I was a "Hale" now, with the clothes, the school, and the

e library do

heart pounding. The light from the hallway

n't Ri

my mo

mahogany bookshelf and pulled out a specific volume-a th

all envelope, and tucked it

oulders shaking, before she turned a

seen. My mother, the woman who had begged me t

ry. I didn't go to sleep. I sat by my window, watching the sun begin to

in three days. The world

s beautiful bride, along with two t

ar was being fought. For the first

oid one last time bef

the photo. He was talki

rying to

hispered to the empty

d the heavy thud o

s leaving

he Hale mansion, the cl